Online Rn to Bsn as schools as good as brick and mortar?

Nursing Students Online Learning

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Does anyone think that online Rn to Bsn programs might be considered inferior by nurse recruiters?

I know it should not be that way.

I am hearing horror stories of grads of other professions who have degrees obtained online but can not find jobs.

Lots of recruiters of other professions even admit to it.

I think many people have this perception that online schools are not as vigorous as brick and mortar schools.

Of course,there is so much variety of online schools.

Non profit,schools that are regionally accredited but have no brick and mortar campus()

For profit schools that are regionally accredited(Chamberlain) with a brick and mortar campus.

Some are non profit with a brick and mortar campus but not accredited(my old Adn school just started an Rn to Bsn program but it is not accredited yet. The Adn was Acen accredited since the late 60's). If i start there in Sept i would be in the 1st Rn to Bsn class to graduate from the school.

Wgu is giving me a vibe of "We accept anyone",

WHy? I know for a FACT i failed the entrance exam,but the recruiter said i passed.

Specializes in ER.
I have voted against hiring a person with a degree from a known quick and cheap diy online school. The job will always go to the person who attended a well regarded school of nursing.

I do feel that people who invest time and money in these online schools are going to wish that they hadn't taken that route to a bsn.

Is that the only reason why you voted against that person? Did you take into merits their work history or personality? Their references? If that's the only reason, then isn't that a bit sad that is your only criteria. I would personally prefer someone who is nice and hardworking with a solid background over someone who went to a traditional BSN school and is mean and nasty.

No. All BSN programs are not the same. There are actually some that have clinical hours and real live clinical instructors.

I am an ICU nurse and I stupidly agreed to be on the hiring committee.

To be honest, those are few and far between. All brick RN to BSN programs in my area do not have clinicals. The RN to BSN schools have realized that the associate degree provides enough clinical hours to become licensed in the state like they should. Many ADN programs in my area have more than the BSN schools clinical hours per category. I looked them up. I also compared curriculum and found that most of the BSN schools required just the fluff classes like world religions or a fine arts for their curriculum.

Honestly, a lot of nursing ADN programs are including community health and the preceptorship. The ADN schools added it on and the BSNs are moving away from them in my area.

We are suppose to be a site called "ALL NURSES" but it seems as though we still have those that want to establish a pecking order - ADN is better than LPN, BSN is better than ADN, I went to a "brick and mortar" school while the person over there got their lowly degree "online" so I'm better than them, blah, blah, blah.......
Very true!

I will say this. There is an elitist view on education and in many ways education is the way that people can weed other people out. I think that schools should work on streamlining their degrees so people can graduate quicker with less filler classes. Did I really need dance history for my BSN? Will it help me with nursing? No. Will a world religions class truly help with a BSN? If you say yes, then why is it only one school in my area requires it. If we could eliminate some of the fluff classes and streamline degrees like other countries have, then I think that we can cut out a lot of the cost of education.

People need to research their schools and what people want in their area! My degree means something in my area because the hospitals love the setup and the ability to offer reduced tuition. They love the online format too. However, the name means little elsewhere probably.

Also, all schools can be horrible, even brick and mortar. We joke about one school that has the medical school in the area and how their nurses have difficulty even passing the NCLEX.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

When my coworkers ask recommendations on RN to BSN programs I often recommend Texas Tech. Not counting general eds, their program runs 5 months. Diploma Mill right? Except they are a large B&M college over in Lubbock. I personally know several who went through their BSN completion then were accepted to and completed NP school at UTMB-Galveston. All of those now work in my hospital and around our region after passing their certifications on the first try.

Just saying, don't judge the program by the length.

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Specializes in ICU.

A nurse who takes the easy way out and buys a degree online can not be trusted to conduct him or herself ethically in the workplace or be counted on to have the educational foundation and maintain the continuing education necessary to work in Critical Care.

As I said before the purpose of this is not to make anyone feel

inferior, it is the bogus online "universities" that are inferior

The original poster asked if online rn to bsn programs are as good as brick and mortar and the answer is no some are sub standard and should not be accredited.

She failed the entrance exam and pressured her to enroll anyway. At best it's a bottom of the barrel program.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
A nurse who takes the easy way out and buys a degree online can not be trusted to conduct him or herself ethically in the workplace or be counted on to have the educational foundation and maintain the continuing education necessary to work in Critical Care.

As I said before the purpose of this is not to make anyone feel

inferior, it is the bogus online "universities" that are inferior.

I gotta say, I don't get the impression that you're not out to make nurses who have completed online programs inferior. Your first statement is rather indicative of your attitude towards those nurses, not those schools. You can deny it all you want, but the words speak for themselves.

Reality is, online programs are the way of the future. Demand for RN-to-BSN programs is up, brick and mortar programs that require class attendance just don't work for those who work all hours of the day with no guarantee that they will be able to attend class at set hours. Yes, online is convenient. Yet, online can also be rigorous and just as good as the brick and mortar program- after all, many of those online programs are offered by brick and mortar universities.

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Specializes in ER.
A nurse who takes the easy way out and buys a degree online can not be trusted to conduct him or herself ethically in the workplace or be counted on to have the educational foundation and maintain the continuing education necessary to work in Critical Care.

As I said before the purpose of this is not to make anyone feel

inferior, it is the bogus online "universities" that are inferior

The original poster asked if online rn to bsn programs are as good as brick and mortar and the answer is no some are sub standard and should not be accredited.

She failed the entrance exam and WGU pressured her to enroll anyway. At best it's a bottom of the barrel program.

You do realize that there are many RNs that work critical care with diplomas and associate degrees? Would you count experience and references when hiring or would you flat out reject them? Your previous statement came off as narrow minded. You need to view the whole picture.

I have no experience with . I personally chose to go the route with Ohio University because I live instate and a lot of hospitals push people towards OU in my area.

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Specializes in ICU.

I don't know you and I don't care what you think.

Dumbed down pass fail online nursing education programs do exist. Anyone with a half brain in their head can see the magnitude of those scams.

Online education may be the way of the future but it's a big step backward for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Would you want a physician who got his degree from a laptop?

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Honestly, I am persuing my ADN locally near home and getting a job ASAP. Then I'll be doing my online bridge while I work and gain experience. I might even skip the BSN and go straight to my Masters to save time :) Most places don't care where you got a BSN from, rather the experience in the area they are hiring for. Some HR people might be different, but there are so many out of state grads of all levels from online and campus programs that HR would have to dig deep just to see how well known an unfamiliar school is. They care about the numbers and good recommendations. Best of luck in your choices!!!

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Another thing I want to add:

Guys, we are suppose to be sincere to e/o, not just our patients. Let's not get wound up because we share different opinions. Love, love, love!!!

OP, in addition to my last post, I would advise you to talk to HR at all the areas you would like to work at in the future. Ask them what they think about where you are in your career NOW as well as if you took the online route. Once you get a job, you are set :) Best wishes to you!

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I foresee a- thread closed for staff review on this one.

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I gotta say, I don't get the impression that you're not out to make nurses who have completed online programs inferior. Your first statement is rather indicative of your attitude towards those nurses, not those schools. You can deny it all you want, but the words speak for themselves.

Reality is, online programs are the way of the future. Demand for RN-to-BSN programs is up, brick and mortar programs that require class attendance just don't work for those who work all hours of the day with no guarantee that they will be able to attend class at set hours. Yes, online is convenient. Yet, online can also be rigorous and just as good as the brick and mortar program- after all, many of those online programs are offered by brick and mortar universities.

I agree with you! I have seen many people with busy schedules maintain life and RN school, but once you are already an RN trying to further your career, you have to be ssssuuuuppppeeeerrrr flexible! You put just the right words for the OP :)

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Another thing I want to add:

Guys, we are suppose to be sincere to e/o, not just our patients. Let's not get wound up because we share different opinions. Love, love, love!!!

OP, in addition to my last post, I would advise you to talk to HR at all the areas you would like to work at in the future. Ask them what they think about where you are in your career NOW as well as if you took the online route. Once you get a job, you are set :) Best wishes to you!

This is tricky for me,and it requires LOTS of explaining....

In my area companies now want Bsn even for community based jobs.

The NJ VNA only wants BSN nurses for a non supervisor field position.

It seems the writing is on the wall.

I would have never thought Homecare companies(and other community based employers) would require a BSN.

I thought the BSN was only required for acute care...not so in my area.

BSN requirements for RN staff are spreading outside of acute care, non magnet hospital now!

Imagine that!

I am a Private Duty Nurse(been a nurse for 10 yrs),and I might be for the rest of my nursing career. If i do get the BSN my pay will be the same.

There isn't any upper mobility in Private Duty except as a clinical manager(supervisor).

I do not want to be a supervisor anyway,as I do not have the personality for it.

I want to stay at the bedside.

I do,however, feel the itch to experience working in med surg for at least 1 yr,as i never got that experience.

In this area,to work in med surg,you need a BSN,which i do not have.

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Here's the thing - for experienced nurses, most hospitals do not care where you got your BSN, just that you have it. They want it for their numbers, so they can say "X number of our nurses have their BSNs". So as long as you have a BSN, they are going to be looking at your experience. That is where the rubber meets the road.

It is a cycle for me.

I can't gain relevant acute care experience because i do not have a BSN!

I think my statement is true for newer nurses.

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